Salsa in the United States

Origins and New York style Salsa Music

Salsa music and salsa dancing originated in the inner city neighborhoods of New York City. There are multiple styles of salsa, but in its development it was nurtured by both Cuban and Puerto Rican musicians. Salsa emergence was contingent upon the vibrant Latino immigrant communities that were settled in East Harlem. These immigrant communities implemented their specific heritage’s musical influence into their salsa music. Although salsa music was developed in the United States, it had a particular Latin Sound. The original rhythm of salsa is the son clave, which is primarily a Cuban rhythm. Salsa contains a heavy amount of percussion, including maracas, bongos, cowbells, and tamboras. Salsa also contains various other instruments such as: trumpets, trombones, saxophones, bass, guitar, and piano.

The New York style salsa is commonly referred to as “Mambo”. This style required the break steps to be on ‘2’ and ‘6’. This is more rhythmically and musically rich and complex. This video demonstrates the dance step that is used in this style of salsa music.

Influence in the rest of the United States

California

Throughout the 1930’s, 40’s, and 50’s cuban styles including the son, rumba conga, guaracha, mambo and cha cha cha dominated. The popularity of these cuban styles led it to spread throughout the entire country and all over the world.

The main difference between salsa in New York, and salsa in California is when the break steps occur. In LA style salsa, the break steps are taken on beats ‘1’ and ‘5’, while in New York style salsa, the break steps are taken on ‘2’ and ‘6’. Because the break beat is on ‘1’, the L.A. Style Salsa feels much faster, and could even be considered a flashier version of New York style salsa.

At its core, L.A. style salsa still contains the same basic components of salsa. It still utilizes Cuban rhythms and contains the same instruments. L.A. salsa incorporates other types of music as well. These types include: Jazz, Hip-hop, and ballroom.

This video is an example of L.A style salsa with break beats on ‘1’ and ‘5’.

Miami

There was not much information regarding the Miami style of salsa. All sources stated that the Miami style of salsa was a more complex and technically advanced Cuban salsa. This has to do with the immigration of Cubans and Puerto Ricans to Miami. Their native influences impacted the already popular United States form of salsa music, and added a new Latin flare. There is not much difference other then the complex dance moves. Beat breaks still occur on ‘1’ and ‘5’ in this style of salsa.

The main difference between Miami style salsa and other salsa music and dance is the complex arm pretzels and hooks used. Many other Miami style salsa moves contain circular motions rather then linear movements present in the two styles above. The video below demonstrates the complex arm movements as well as the circular nature of the dance.

 

Works Cited

“Salsa Crossings”

“Sounding Salsa”

http://www.torontodancesalsa.ca/articles/The-Different-Styles-Of-Salsa.php

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-different-styles-of-salsa-dancing

 

 

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